Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles

The latest Perfect Chemistry book is told in the youngest Fuentes, Luis' point of view. Luis may have big plans to become an astronaut, but that doesn't mean he lacks that rebellious streak his older brothers have. He falls for Nikki, and is determined to make her his girlfriend. He is also drawn into the Latino Blood, who reveal a devastating secret to him. Nikki had been dating Marco for a year when he broke her heart, saying he was going to be involved in the LB. Nikki was heartbroken, especially since she was pregnant with Marco's baby. Ever since then, she hasn't let any guy get close to her and keeps her guard up. She's skeptical of love, until Luis.

Overall, I the plot and characters were enjoyable as always. There was just the right amount of romance mixed with action and family. I liked how all the previous characters are still involved in this book and how they've come along. I did like how the shower scene from the cover was Incorporated into the story, it was a nice surprise than what was expected.

The only thing I can say is that after reading this series I felt like I basically read the same story three times. Because that's basically what it was. Fuentes meets rich girl, they don't click right away, then eventually fall hopelessly in love. Throw in some gang violence and other various complications, and there you have it! A Perfect Chemistry story. I was excited to read that Nikki was Mexican because I was expecting a variation in the plot, but I was pretty wrong because you might as well put her in the same category as the other girls.

Something else I find amusing about the Fuentes is that they are so driven on breaking the stereotypes of Mexicans and gangs, yet they enforce those stereotypes. Like when they say things like "I'm a Fuentes, it's in our blood." or "violence is in my blood" "I have to fulfill my father's footsteps" bla bla bla. Anyway...

I thought Chain Reaction was pretty good, even though it's basically the same as the other books in the series. 4 out of 5 stars.

Where There's a Wolf, There's a Way (Monster High #3) by Lisi Harrison

The newest edition of the Monster High series focuses on Clawdeen, as well as our usual narrators (Frankie and Melody). The monster documentary was released, but yet no faces were blurred. The RADs identities have been discovered and many of them are forced to leave town. This is basically the aftermath and what happens next, while developing some interesting relationships and putting twists into the plot line.

I liked the overall plot, yet I found it to be a little bit boring compared to the last two books. I liked Clawdeen's character and Melody's discovery. I also liked how Billy has become a regular and is growing more interesting. I have to say that he's my favorite character by far! I hope he'll get his own book at some point... The usual pop culture references were enjoyable and the writing is simple and fun.

I didn't find this one as good as the first two, but I'm still looking forward to reading the fourth book, where Lala gets her time in the spotlight. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Julius Caesar (Oxford School Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar is a play written by Shakespeare that tells of his murder and the events that follow. Contrary to what the title suggests, this play is not actually Julius Caesar. Instead, it is a story of revenge and human character.

Julius Caesar was required reading over the winter break. I thought it was an interesting story that helped me further understand history. At times, I liked the wording and such of Shakespeare, but at other times it was a bit confusing. The version I read from was Oxford School Shakespeare. I found it to be very helpful with many footnotes and pictures on the sides. The book I had also had helpful summaries in the beginning, so if I was unclear about the whole scene, I could read the summary. It also had a synopsis for each scene, so that also helped me as a reader understand more than I would have originally. I liked now the characters are really deep and you can't decide who you like better, Cassius or Brutus. The only other Shakespeare play I've read is Romeo and Juliet, and I have to say I prefer Romeo and Juliet. Not bad for required reading, but a bit confusing at times. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks



Dawson Cole was born into the rebellious and dangerous Cole family in Oriental, North Carolina. But Dawson is different, unlike his family he didn’t want to be violent and get into trouble. One day in chemistry class, he meets Amanda.

Amanda Collier was born into a wealthy family and has big plans to graduate from Duke. When she meets Dawson, they fall in love despite their families differences.

When Amanda’ parents refuse to pay her tuition if she continues to see Dawson, Dawson makes a difficult decision in letting her go so she can pursue her dreams. Twenty-five years later, they are reunited with the death of Tuck, and older friend of theirs. They are forced to confront the realities that they live in, neither of them having the future they imagined.

This was my first Nicholas Sparks novel, and nobody warned me that it was going to be so sad! My god it broke my heart. Anyways…

I liked the whole basic plot of the story, it was interesting and nicely paced, though maybe a little slow at times. The story was entrancing and there were some surprisingly suspenseful action scenes. I liked how the author shifted between points of view and the different characters so you didn’t get too bored and you were able to understand everyone’s thinking. I liked all the characters, except maybe Abee and Ted, but even then I still understood their motives and everything. The romance was so real, and it makes me so sad to see how things didn’t work out for them. I also liked how Sparks kept the reader guessing, and even though I assumed mutiple times about things, I turned out to be wrong.

My only complaints were the author’s enter button seemed to have been broken for a while. And also how sad it was. The story could have gone either way, but instead it took a sad turn. :(

I was reading some other reviews, and I noticed that a lot of them said that the whole “Dawson seeing a spirit” was cheesy, but I liked it because it kinda put an ongoing mystery into the story, one which I did not see at all. Also, they complained about how predictable the story was. Maybe it’s just me and my hope for a happy ending, but I DID NOT see that coming. I had my suspicions set in a different area.

All in all, I loved this book no matter how sad it was. I liked how everything came together nicely in the end and how touching it all was. It’s being turned into a movie, and I’m interested in seeing how they will interpret it.

If you’re a fan of Nicholas Sparks or Jodi Picoult, then I would recommend this one. I loved it, even with the dramatic twists. 5 out of 5 stars.

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Wren loved Danny. In fact, she still does. He was her everything, and she was his. One sunny day, he dies in a car crash. Wren is devastated, and decides that she must do anything she can to have him back. She’s always known she was special and possessed supernatural powers, so with the hope to have her boyfriend back, she performs a spell. When she opens her eyes, she finds Danny in front of her. At least, it’s sort-of Danny. He’s colder, paler, less human. Undead. She hides him away and is glad to have him back. Then Gabriel comes to town. He sees the power that’s inside Wren, and makes her see that what she did was wrong. With things getting worse with Danny, as well as her relationship with her friends and family, Wren discovers what it means to love and what it means to lose.

The plot was interesting and I liked the author’s take on zombies. In the beginning , I was very intrigued with the mystery and romance. I kinda was over it halfway through. I felt like this would have done better as a longer story, with more background to their relationship, and also the future. I don’t know if a second book is planned, but there were some unanswered questions at the end. It was also pretty anticlimactic. It was promising in the beginning, but it got less interesting as the story went on. Oh, and if you are planning on reading this novel, I suggest you read the summary of it so you get a basic idea of what’s going on. Because the author just throws you out there and explains it later, which can be a bit confusing.

The characters were iffy. I found myself relating to Wren in the way that she loved Danny a lot, and wanted to bring him back because she missed him so much. I loved the bits of the past that she described, because it helped me sympathize with her and understand how special their relationship was. However, she also bothered me because of her selfishness and ignorance to other people’s feelings, like her friends’ and family’s. And also to Gabriel. He had been nothing but nice to her, and basically it was like “Thankyou Gabriel I need you” to “Get away from me and stop helping” in the next second. She was just so afraid of loving him and decides to be mean to him, and every time he comes back. I didn’t find myself connecting with any of the other characters.

I know all I’ve been doing is criticizing this book, but I promise there were some good parts. Those are the parts where I really connected with Wren and her struggle, like when you see why she loved Danny so much. I also really liked the concept, and the conflicting feelings of grief, love, and loss.

The cover is gorgeous, and probably what interested me in the first place. Overall, this is an average paranormal romance for me. I liked the take on zombies, but this just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m sure If I wanted to read a paranormal romance, I could find a more satisfying story. But this was just okay, not good and not bad. If wouldn’t recommend it, just because I think there’s better out there. If you want a good read about loss and love (not paranormal though) try Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. 3 out of 5 stars for Cold Kiss.

Something Borrowed: Movie vs. Book

This post is a comparison of the movie Something Borrowed versus the book by Emily Griffin.

I found the book to be a million times better than the movie. In the movie, as a viewer you immediately side with Rachel and not at all with Darcy. Darcy is seen as a manipulative bitch and bad friend. In the book, the reader is truly torn between who is in the wrong. The book is more thought provoking and interesting, while the movie is straightforward. I think by reading it you get more out of the story and understand more. That way, you're not just watching a chick flick but thinking about your morals.

I really liked the casting that they did though, I think that Darcy was chosen perfectly. And Ethan I think? I liked him a lot too. The rest of the characters were easily likable too.

Another major difference between the book and the movie is that Rachel's friend (I think her name starts with a C or something... the one who dislikes Darcy and is supportive of her) is nonexistent. Her part of the supportive friend is replaced by Ethan, and it's a nice twist of the story. I actually enjoyed that difference More than the book. I think it flowed better and put some drama into the story.

The movie didn't get very good reviews, which I can understand. If you're interested in the movie, I would suggest reading the book at some point to truly understand the story.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater



Every November, the capaill uisce return. The capaill are water horses, born from the sea. They resemble land horses, but stronger, faster, dangerous, wild, and carnivorous. When the horses come to the island of Thisby, the Scorpio Races take place. Men all over the island claim one of the deadly horses and announce they will race them. Then, the betting begins. This novel tells of two characters orphaned by the capaill uisce and their determination to win the race and prove themselves.

There is Sean Kendrick, the four-time winner of the races. He has a special bond with the horses and can understand and ride them like no other. He is said to have one foot in the sea, and the other on land.

And then there is Kate “Puck” Connoly. She is struggling to make ends meet for herself and two brothers. She has never paid attention to the races but when her older brother announces that he is going to leave the island, she is driven to win the races and her brother back. She is the first girl to ride in the races and not only that, but she’ll be racing with her land “pony” Dove, which is unheard of.

I loved this book! I usually don’t go for fantasy, but this was more like mythology and had the perfect blend of real and imagination. Stiefvater has a magical, lyrical way of writing. The way she describes things puts you under a spell and makes you want more. It’s also really graphic, and made me flinch a few times.

I adored Sean. He’s so simple and quiet and always has so much going on in his mind he doesn’t verbalize. And Puck, I loved her too. Even though she could be a tad annoying at time. The characters are all very realistic and relatable, as Stiefvater’s always are. I love the cover! It’s the same color as blood is when it dries, and there’s a lot of blood in the book so I thought that was pretty cool.

The only negative thing I have to say about this book is the occasionally slow plot. It’s pretty slow, but there are quite a few capturing moments, and those are what keep you interested. If you’re thinking about putting down this book, trust me and just keep reading. It’s worth it. Also, the romance. The sleeve of the book promises romance, and you’re like “This is coming from the author of Shiver. And the story is about a boy and a girl about the same age. They have to fall in love.” But it took so long! They didn’t even meet until like halfway through! So I think that the Scorpio Races is more about a different kind of love, such as family, animals, nature, and of your town.

I’m not a huge fan of horses, but honestly, it didn’t matter with the Scorpio Races. It was fantastic and breathtaking. And I loved it all the same. And the end? I ADORED it. And I loved how there was no epilogue, so it’s up to the reader to decide what comes next. Plus, all the suspense! It’s a race, and you grow to love Sam and Puck. You know they can’t both win, and everything all leads up to that final moment.

For those of you who are wondering how it compares to the Shiver series, it’s entirely different. If you are looking for that breathtaking romance that Sam and Grace had, you’re in the wrong place. However, The Scorpio Races is told in an alternating point-of-view like the Shiver books. Her style of writing is the same, but much more descriptive and wonderful. Please don’t crack this spine expecting romance like Shiver’s, it’s not happening. But open this book anyway, because it’s something else entirely magical. 5 out of 5 stars.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe



Things Fall Apart was required reading for my English class, therefore it was not a book that I chose to read of my free will. As required reading, I found it to be enjoyable and easy to follow. The writing was easy to interpret and I was able to relate to the characters. Reading this book on my own, I probably would have written it off as a pointless book. But after doing like a million “Guided Reading Questions” and participating in class discussions, as well as studying the Scramble to Africa in my World History class, I enjoyed it and appreciated the way that Achebe wrote so that I, as a Western reader, could get a more African point of view about this historical time, rather than the shallow “white man” view that we are often taught in school. This book literally opened my eyes and helped me destroy the stereotypes I had in my head, helped me become more culturally aware, and influenced me to think about different points of views when it comes to history lessons like this. Things Fall Apart probably isn’t a book I would recommend for pleasure reading, but as for classroom reading, it’s not all that bad. 3.5 of of 5 stars.

Rules of Attraction (Perfect Chemistry #2) by Simone Elkes

Perfect Chemistry left us off with Brittany and Alex going off to college together, and the rest of Alex's family being sent back to Mexico for their protection. Rules of Attraction tells the story of Alex's younger brother Carlos when he returns to Colorado. After an incident, he ends up living with his peer guide, Kiara. And what happens when you have Carlos, the cocky rebel, and Kiara, the insecure sharp one? Perfect Chemistry.

I really liked Perfect Chemistry, and I was reluctant to read Rules of Attraction, basically because it seems like it was the same plot. gangbanger + white girl = unpredictable love. But I do have to give props to the author. Kiara was nothing like Brittany. She wasn't popular and confident, in fact she was just the opposite. And Carlos was similar to Alex, but that's because they're brothers. But it wasn't exactly the same and it was different enough to be enjoyable.

I really liked how Alex and Brittany were part of this story, so it's not like they were cast off into some other world. Carlos is hotttt. The only bad thing about that is that he knows it. It just adds to his charm :). Kiara was a great character, I liked how she could keep up with Carlos and challenge him. I loved the cookie magnet thing! However, I felt like she didn't get as many pages as Carlos did.

As for the cover... Not doing it for me. It looks like it was badly photoshopped, and just... no. Haha that's all about the cover. And the epilogue? Really cheesy and unnecessary. You think Elkes would have learned from her last novel! But anyway.

Overall, Rules of Attraction was a cute romance story and a nice sequel to Perfect Chemistry, despite the similar plot. I look forward to reading the third one. 4 out of 5 stars.

Shopaholic & Baby (Shopaholic #5) by Sophie Kinsella

Everything is perfect for Becky. She's pregnant, her and Luke have a fabulous house they're going to be buying (it even has a shoe room!), she's having a great time shopping for her baby, and she has a obstetrician who deals with all the celebrities, and she's going to be in Vogue. Perfect, that is, until she finds out that her obstetrician is Luke's ex-girlfriend. At first, everything is okay, but Luke begins to keep secrets from her and  goes out with Venetia (the obstetrician) without Becky. Becky also has a lot of other problems to deal with, and when she  tries to tell Luke that Venetia is after him, he doesn't believe her. Is their marriage in trouble?

It's nice to see that in this story Becky has turned her spending habits for herself down a notch. Instead, she spends for her baby. Does her baby really need 5 prams? Apparently... She doesn't know whether she's having a boy or a girl, so how does she decide what to get? The solution: things for both! I think Kinsella did a great job on this one, especially with portraying Venetia and Becky's frustration towards her. The story was cute, funny, and enjoyable, and Becky Bloomwood followers will enjoy this addition to her series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. :) 4 out of 5 stars.

Shopaholic & Sister (Shopaholic #4) by Sophie Kinsella

Becky and Luke have been honeymooning around the world for a year. Everything is perfect, they've been having a great carefree time. When they finally decide to return to London, Becky imagines that everyone will welcome her with open arms and want to hear all about her trip, she'll go shopping with Suze again, catch up with her parents, and Luke will stop being so obsessed with work. She's dissapointed to find that her parents seem nervous around her, almost like they're hiding something. Suze has found a new best friend, and they've bonded over their children. And Luke is still obsessed with his work. Becky has been feeling a bit down, until her parents tell her what they've been hiding from her. She has a sister! Well, a half sister. Becky is filled with wonderful ideas about how they're going to form a sisterly bond and go shopping together and watch girly movies until.... she realizes that Jess (her sister) hates shopping and is super stingy with money. How can they possibly be sisters?

Becky really frustrated me in this one. How has she NOT gotten over her spending problem or improved her habits at all? Putting that small detail aside, Shopaholic & Sister was a nice addition to the series. Jess was a little bit over the top, but then again, so is Becky! They're complete opposites, and it's funny to see them communicate with eachother. I liked how Luke played more of a part in this story than the other ones, and how Becky is sort of not really learing to live frugally (as if).

There's not a whole lot that's different than the other Shopaholic books. The author hasn't lost Becky's voice (or her spending problem lol). I liked the other ones, and I liked this one. It's a cute, fun series that I find worth reading again. :) 4 out of 5 stars.

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

Hello readers! I've been a little behind in writing reviews, so I'm these next few ones are going to be brief so I can catch up :)

A Kiss in Time tells the story of Talia and Jack. Talia was warned by her parents never to touch a spindle, but she does (without knowing what it is) and falls into a deep sleep where she is only to be waken up by her true love. 300 years later, Jack is touring Europe and breaks off from his tour group. He comes across the hidden city of Euphrasia and finds a beautiful girl sleeping. He kisses her, and she wakes up, which is where the trouble starts. Talia's family is very upset with her for "ruining their kingdom" with her stupidity, so she begs Jack to take her with him to Florida.

I loved the modern day take on Sleeping Beauty, which was my favorite fairy tale when I was younger. Talia and Jack are both lovable characters, and the plot is interesting and fast paced. I loved reading Talia's take on Florida's culture and her awe of bathing suits and how people acted. I think the author did a great job of incorporating what someone would be thinking after waking up from a 300 year's sleep.

This book is definitely heavy on dialogue, and I think it's safe to say that it's a lot of "talk but no action". There is action, but it all goes by so fast and is hardly drawn out. I felt like the reading wasn't quite as advanced as I would like it to be (or at least not advanced enough for me). I think that I would have enjoyed this book a LOT if I had read it when I was like in 6th grade. I'm older now, and I still liked it, but I felt there was so much talking and it was so fast paced I didn't get to enjoy just one part of it before I was whisked away to another.

I enjoyed Beastly a lot, an A Kiss In Time was sadly not as enjoyable as Beastly. I would give this 3.5 out of 5 stars . I liked it, but not enough to read again. I would recommend it to readers who enjoyed Beastly, readers who like modern day fairy tales, or middle schoolers who want a fun romance story.

Boy Toy by Barry Lyga

Josh was molested by his teacher when he was twelve. Now he's a senior and is going to be graduating from college soon. Josh has pretty much ignored his past for years, but now when Eve is released from prison he begins to pick up the pieces of his life and put them all together as he rediscovers who he is.

Boy Toy was a lot to handle. Lyga has a beautiful way which he connects the past with the present. It's a little confusing at first, but after you keep reading you're able to get the main idea and all the other little details begin to fall into place. I loved this book, however dark and disturbing it was.

When Josh describes his past, it's hard to read. It's all so real and you're always on Josh's side. You can understand why he likes Eve because when he describes her, she's really not a bad person. As an outside pair of eyes, you know that she's manipulating him and what they're doing is bad, but when you read as Josh, you can see why things happened the way they did. It was horrible to read about how he says he loves her and tries to protect her.

I fell in love with Josh a little bit. He has that wounded, tortured quality about him that makes you want to get to know him and make him feel better. He's honest, endearing, quick to think, and funny. He's also a baseball player. I kind of have a thing for baseball players lol. And when I say "baseball players" I mean my boyfriend. Their uniforms are way cute and I can actually follow baseball, unlike some other sports (**cough** football **cough**). There's a lot of baseball lingo and references and just general talk about the game, so if you know nothing about how baseball works, you'll definitely feel a little lost at parts and be missing out on a lot of Josh's character. I know the game and how it works, and I have someone I can ask about the slang terms, but even then there were still parts I was a little confused at.

I loved the other characters too, not necessarily because I liked THEM (well I liked Zik), but I liked how realistic they were. This entire story was very realistic, to the point that it was almost scary because you know that what has happened in the book actually DOES happen.

Boy Toy was fascinating and intriguing, however sad and disturbing it was. It's definitely not a light read, but it is told in a way that makes it interesting so it's not all "I'm a victim and my life is ruined." I would recommend it to an older teen, because there are mature topics and problems. I don't remember why I chose to read it, but I could have sworn it was like an LGBT read, but I guess not. So I wonder where I saw it and wanted to read it... Anyway, I loved the story and how it was written and how much I understood Josh. 5 out of 5 stars. Go read it!

Something Borrowed (Darcy & Rachel) by Emily Griffin

Friend or romantic relationship? I think that a lot of us can relate to that one, because we have had to make a similar choice in our life, whether we've realized it or not. Rachel, our protagonist, is caught in a tricky situation. Her best friend Darcy whom she's known forever has always had it made. She's always had more money, more friends, and more guys. So of course she would be the one to be getting married to Dex while Rachel still doesn't even have a guy in sight. After a night with a little too much drinking, Rachel and Dex end up in bed together. Rachel dismisses it and tells herself that they were drunk and never to think of it again. It was in the past right? Well it was, until Dex calls her and tells her that he is beginning to have actual feelings for her and they should get together again. They meet in secret a few times and Rachel realizes that she is in love with her best friend's fiance.

I really enjoyed Something Borrowed. I liked the plot, the writing style, and the characters. Especially the characters. I think they were really well formed and 3D. However, they do have their flaws but I think it makes them more endearing in a way.

I did have a problem with the morality of the whole issue. I mean, it IS her best friend. And even if she is a bitch and has gotten everything she's wanted, does that make it okay? And Dex, what kind of person does that make him? It was honestly just really confusing trying to decide who I supported when you really think about it. I do have to give Griffin two thumbs up for throwing surprises in there and keeping me on my toes and changing my views on the characters. I have also had to choose between a friend and a guy before in my life (not on such an extreme level as Rachel though). And I chose the guy, so I guess that makes me the bad person lol. So I found it easy to relate to the big picture thing. If I were to just tell you the plot of this story, you would probably already hate Rachel a little bit for doing that to her friend. But as you read the story, you find yourself feeling sympathetic and understanding of Rachel and not hating her. It's weird I tell you! And I am seriously wondering what the whole message the author was trying to convey was. Cheating is okay? As long as it's love? Real friendships would last?

I know this book has been made into a movie and it got really low reviews and they probably butchered the book lol but I'm going to watch it and we'll see. I'll post the movie vs. book here after.

I'm looking forward to reading the second book, because it's about Darcy. I didn't like Darcy, but she might redeem herself in the sequel.

All in all, I did enjoy Something Borrowed and would recommend it. It's morally confusing, but it's enjoyable and it will give you something to think about! 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Every year it's the same. The football team and the soccer team continue with the rivalries that have been going on much, much longer than any of them can remember. It's been going on so long that they can't even remember why it started in the first place. The girlfriends of the players are tired of it though. Every year they are cast aside for the rivalry. Example, if a girl had a date with a football player, he might cancel on her to go do something stupid like toilet paper a soccer player's house. Lissa vows to change this, so she gets together a group of the girlfriends where they take an oath. They say that the guys won't get any action from them until the rivalry stops. It seems simple enough, until it escalates into a full on, guys-vs-girls battle instead.

I loved the humor of this book! It was hilarious and it made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions. The plot is interesting enough, and the author takes a light tone that makes it easy to follow. I loved how it was modeled after a Greek play, especially since that's what we're studying in English right now.

However, I found it to be a bit unrealistic. First of all, how many high school relationships last over a year? Well, being a high-schooler, let me tell you. A year is a longggggg time. So it seems a bit odd that like all the players have such long lasting relationships lol. And also, how desperate the guys are for sex. Like it's almost at an extreme haha. But anyway, besides these few unrealistic qualities of the book, I found It quite enjoyable.

Lissa, I didn't like too much. She makes me want to smack her so she can realize what she's doing and what she's missing out on and all the bad choices she's making! She is basically just clueless to everyone else's feelings around her due to her controlling attitude. Randy kinda disappointed me, because he seemed really sweet and I actually had liked him. Until...... well I won't ruin it for you ;). Cash was adorable, I approve of him haha. And Chloe is awesome. I liked her personality!

I liked how the book wasn't REALLY about romance. The romance was more on the side, and even though the book is about a sex strike, it's also about friendship, girl power, and discovering yourself. Points to Lissa for becoming a better person in the end!

It's a bit forward about sex, but not graphic or anything. So if it will make you uncomfortable I don't recommend it. But for anyone else, it will be a light, entertaining, fun read :) I found it entertaining and enjoyable.  4 out of 5 stars.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin (Birthright #1)

When I heard that the author or Elsewhere had a new book out, it was on my to-read list instantly. Elsewhere was one of my favorite books when I was like in 5th/6th grade and I've probably read it on 5 different occasions. I had also recommended it to my friends and my mom, that's how much I liked it. So you can see how excited I was to be reading something new from Gabrielle. Then Queen Taco recommended it to me, so then I was like, "I have to actually read this... like now."

All These Things I've Done takes place in 2083, when chocolate has been banned, caffeine is illegal, as are a number of other things. You have to have vouchers to buy pretty much everything. You even have to pay postage to send an email. New York is full of crime and suspicion. Anya Balanchine, our protagonist, is a simple 16 year old. Well, maybe not so simple considering her deceased father was involved in major crimes. All Anya wants is to take care of her family, go to school, avoiding her ex. It's all been going okay for her, until one day her ex ends up in the hospital and Anya is charged for "attempted murder". And after that, she knows her life will never be the same.

When I first read the summary, I thought this was going to be a dystopian read. And for some reason I'm really into dystopia so I was kinda excited haha. But this novel isn't dystopia at all. It's actually more crime and mystery, with romance, friendship, family, adventure, and science fiction. Honestly, this book covers a million different genres and I think that a lot of people could enjoy it.

The best thing about this book is probably the characters. Anya is so real and I can completely relate with her. I love how she has flaws, and you can clearly see them when you read, but yet somehow you're always on her side because you can relate to her. She's smart and easily loved. As for her best friend Scarlet, wow. I wish I could have a best friend as loyal as she is. She's seriously awesome, and I don't think Anya really deserves her forgivingness and everything lol. Her younger sister Natty is adorable, and Leo is so cute and you really just have to love him. And Win? OMG I love him <3 Almost as much as Sam from the Shiver series haha. Win is soooo cute!!!! Argh Anya, she really needs to snatch him up! The characters of this book are very well developed and easy to relate to, you find yourself loving them all.

The plot was quick, intriguing, and very unique. The romance was almost like a Romeo and Juliet thing, starcrossed lovers and all. The ending, was a little sad for me though. First of all, I didn't know this was a series until I was about 50 pages from the end and I was like "I don't think this is all going to be solved so it must be a series!" lol so I was a little sad :( because I wanted more. And Win.......

Well, I wouldn't want to give away anything I'm not supposed to haha. So, I recommend this book. There's a little bit of something for everyone, and you won't be dissapointed. 5 out of 5 stars. I'm looking forward to reading the next one :)

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Alright so this is going to be a quick post because I have to get back to my homework :P Super fun right...

Erin Blackwell is working long hours in a New York coffee shop. She has a goal to become a romance novelist and is paying her own way through college in hope. It's tedious, but she holds onto the goal of an internship to keep herself going. It wasn't always like this for Erin, she lived in Kentucky and her family owned many horses. She used to have lots of money and get anything she wanted. Then, Erin told her grandmother that she wanted to be a romance novelist instead of being a business major so she could run the horse farm. Erin's grandmother disapproved of this, so she cut Erin off. She wouldn't support Erin's dream job, so if she wanted to get somewhere, she would have to do it herself. To make matters worse, her grandmother gives the stable boy, Hunter, Erin's inheritance. So Hunter is the one who is getting designer clothes and a free ride to college. Erin had a complicated relationship with Hunter in the past, and she writes a fantasy romance story  about him for her English class. Everything is fine, until he walks through the door and everything changes.

I loved the way the author wrote, I can't really explain it but its so lyrical and like the words were individually chosen perfectly. I liked Erin, but she did have a few flaws, and I loved Hunter. They were REAL characters to me because I saw bits of them in myself and other people I know.

The plot is interesting, and I loved how the author included the short stories throughout the book.

And the ending. Ohmygod, I LOVED it. I won't give anything away, but I think it's worth it to stick it out to the end in this one. It was really, really cute. It made me wanting more, but I'm glad it ended when it did.

I also liked how this story wasn't really a "Love Story". It had romance in it, but its really about Erin learning about herself. I love when you think books are supposed to be about romance, but its much more than that. There's also a downfall to that though. Because Erin is spending so much time figuring out herself, her and Hunter are never really on good-terms with each other, which kinda sucks because the reader wants them together. You just want to yell at them "Get over yourselves, move along with your life, and fall in love!!!"

Haha but anyway, it's a cute story. Not the most capturing story, but one that will keep you going. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Lost Voices (Lost Voices #1) by Sarah Porter

Luce has lived with her alcoholic uncle ever since her father went out to sea during a storm and never returned. Her mother died a long time ago, and she is very alone. She doesn't have any friends and chooses to spend her time alone. She dreads coming home to her uncle, unknowing of what he might do to her. One night, when he uncle is especially drunk and tries to rape her, she runs away and is contemplating jumping off a cliff into the ocean. Before she can think any more, she falls off the cliff. Instead of dying, she is turned into a mermaid who now has a home with a tribe of mermaids who eagerly accept her. These mermaids are all "lost girls", who have been cruelly mistreated. That's why they have become mermaids, so that that they can sing to ships and get revenge on the evil things humans have done to them. Luce has an extraordinary voice and quickly becomes second-in-command to the beautiful, mysterious queen Catarina. Luce is thrilled to have a home now, but she questions the morality of killing humans.

Lost Voices  was captivating! I loved the world they lived in, and I love mermaids, and I loved the whole idea of the story. Especially how they were like EVIL mermaids, and had such a dark side.

The writing is beautiful and haunting at the same time. It's cruel but lovely. I love the descriptions and the whole imagination part of this ocean world. And thumbs up to the author for the "larva". Even though I know they were just baby mermaids and I have no problems with babies, I still felt just as repulsed reading about them as the mermaids felt. The characters are fascinating and mysterious, and I wish the author would have focused on them as well as she had focused on the story. The plot is a bit slow, the exciting parts are mainly at the end. Argh, why do authors do this to us haha.

However, the ending ruined Lost Voices for me. How, you might ask? Well there basically was no ending. I almost felt like there was supposed to be some missing chapter that had fallen out of my book. The ending is a promise for another book, but I the problems of the novel are unsolved and a real let-down. I was very disappointed with how the story ended. Not because I'm impatient and I want to know what happens next (well, that too), but because I believe that books in series should also be a good stand alone novel. Like, if someone wanted to read the first book in a series, they would find a complete story and a promise for more. I felt like I had a missing ending and a promise for more.

The cover is beautiful <3 But if that mermaid is supposed to be Luce, the author didn't read the story because Luce has very short hair. And I adore the title. It goes perfectly with the story.

I really did like this story, but I think I would probably recommend the series in a whole rather that just this book. Because I liked the concept and the writing, but not so much the plot rate and the ending. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this trilogy :) This is a 4.5 star book for the overall concept, but  a 3.5 out of 5 stars for me because of the ending, the rate the plot progressed, and how I wanted more out of the characters. And I'm crossing my fingers for a male character in the next book! **cough** merman **cough**

Happy Reading! :)

Beastly: Movie vs. Book

So, I just watched Beastly and decided that I would do a comparison of the movie vs. book version. This will be kinda quick because I have to take a shower soon lol.

First of all, the obvious difference was Kyle. Kyle isn't "beastly" he just looks like he was in a gruesome knife fight and got some cool tribal tattoos and piercings at some point. And Lindy isn't "homely beautiful", she's just pretty haha. There were some plot changes, like the whole beginning! There were a few things that made me a little angry like "OMG how could you change that!" like Kyle's new name. Was there really a point to changing it from Adrian to Hunter? What was the big deal?

The movie would probably be pretty good if you saw it on it's own, but compared to the book it's nowhere near as amazing.

I did like Alex Pettyfer's acting though, I think he played a GREAT Kyle. And especially the anger and frustration part. And of course, after reading the book, you feel like you got absolutely nothing out of the movie because they took out huge, giant chunks of the book from the story, but hey, they have to fit it all in in an hour and a half.

If you plan on watching this movie, I would recommend you read the book first, because its much, much better and more romantic. And then, see the movie, but prepare yourself for a little disappointment. Because Alex Flinn's writing is pretty damn good.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

At one point of this past summer, I saw the cover of this book on GoodReads and I said "Oh, I remember I wanted to read that!" and then after I got the book I was like "I could have sworn that I read this book" but I couldn't quite remember what happened. At about page 200, I realized that I HAD read the book. Wow, so smart of me!! haha

So, in Twenty Boy Summer there's Anna. Anna's best friends with Frankie, and her brother Matt. Anna has been in love with Matt ever since she was 10, and finally at her 15th birthday party, he kisses her. Life is perfect for Anna. She and Matt don't want to upset Frankie with the news, so they decide it would be best if Matt told her himself when they got back from their California trip. Then, their lives take a tragic twist. Matt dies in a car crash because of a heart problem that no one knew he had. Anna never tells Frankie about her and Matt because it was "their secret". So she goes on with her life, secretly hurting. Frankie changes and so does Anna. A year later, it’s time for Frankie’s family’s annual California trip and Anna is invited along. Anna and Frankie plan for the A.B.S.E. (Absolute Best Summer Ever) and plan on meeting 20 new boys between the two of them. Anna reluctantly agrees, even though she has no desire to meet anyone because she’s still not over Matt.

Twenty Boy Summer broke my heart. I was so devastated reading about how Anna loses her love and has conflicting emotions regarding Frankie, love in general, and herself. I connected with this book so personally because I have a boyfriend, and I would be so so so heartbroken if anything happened to him. I feel her pain, and really felt like I understand Anna.  

Frankie was a little bit difficult to relate to. She and Anna are supposed to be best friends, but I don’t know how Anna puts up with her. I guess their duo needs a leader and a follower, and that leader is definitely Frankie. She pushes Anna into things, forces her to look a certain way, lies to her, and is oblivious to the feelings she had for Matt for SIX years. She seems a bit like a diva, but I think she’s also misunderstood. She’s just grieving like everyone else, but her grief is in a different way. She has her soft spots, though and I grew to like her despite her flaws.

I loved pretty much all the characters, and Matt. The cover is beautiful, and goes along with the story perfectly. The only thing that’s a little bit iffy is the title. If you read the book, you understand it and you love it. But if you don’t, it sounds kinda… sleazy, right? But anyway, I would definitely recommend this book, especially to readers who like Sarah Dessen. I absolutely adored this story, even though it was a little sad for me. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s a good kind of heart break because you know everything’s going to be okay in the end. 5 out of 5 stars.

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Beastly is a modern-day re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. If you aren't familiar with the story, I will summarize it for you:

Kyle is rich and spoiled. He's good looking, and his father's a hot-shot, which let's him get away with pretty much anything. He invites an "ugly" girl to the dance, planning on standing her up, which is his mistake. The girl turns out to be a "witch" that casts a spell on him. She turns him into a beast to teach him a lesson about beauty. At the dance, Kyle had given the corsage he had bought for his date (who rejected it because it wasn't expensive or pretty enough for her) to the girl at the ticket booth. The witch recognizes this kindness, and then gives Kyle a chance to break the spell. She says that if he can get a girl to fall in love with him even with his appearance, and if he loves her back, and they kiss within 2 years, the spell will be broken.

My god, I loved this story. I love the story of Beauty and the Beast, and the morals of it. And I loved how the author was able to translate all of that into a modern-day retelling of this classic story. I disliked Kyle in the beginning, he was sooo full-of-it. But after a while, I really started to feel for him. I actually started to like him and want for the spell to be broken. I love it when authors can change your mind about a character! The writing was excellent, I think that Flinn captured the teenage mind of Kyle perfectly, and made him so real. I loved the morals, the characters, the writing, the plot, the romance, and the re-telling.

I wanted to read this book because I heard it was going to be turned into a movie, and I wanted to read the book first. I had read Cloaked by Alex Finn, and I really liked the whole modern-day fairy tale idea. Soo I decided to read Beastly. I would definitely recommend it if you plan to see the movie, or you like Beauty in the Beast, or you like fantasy, or romance. Basically, there's something in it for everyone!

The only thing that bothered me when I was reading this book was the cover. The book I had was the newly published one:

I don't know about you, but Kyle doesn't look very "beastly". In fact, I think that Alex P is still very attractive. And Linda isn't supposed to be conventionally beautiful, but I don't think Vanessa is really doing it for me because, let's all face it. She's pretty no matter what!

I plan on reviewing the movie Beastly once I see it, and compare it to how well I think it followed the story, which was better, etc. So stay tuned for that!

I would recommend Beastly to just about everyone, and I think it deserves 5 out of 5 stars !!!!!

Happy Reading!!!

<3

Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark

Every few years, Emily's dad drags the family along to some vacation spot where they spend a few weeks in the summer with his old college friends. All his friends have kids that are the same age, so Emily, Spencer, Adam, and Heather have known each other forever. This year, the trip will be different though. It's the summer before college, and the first time Emily will have seen Spencer in a long time. The last time she saw him, she pronounced her love for him, and he awkwardly ignored her. Her friend Heather convinces her that this is the PERFECT time to have a fling, and Emily decides that she's right. Now, Emily has to get over Spencer, find someone to have a fling with, and enjoy her summer.

First of all, the characters. I didn't really feel like I connected with Emily a whole lot, probably because she had liked Simon. Simon is like OMG the hugest dick ever. He seriously needs to get over himself. I didn't feel like I really understood Emily a whole lot because of that, and her desperation to meet someone new. And the weird thing is, that I pretty much disliked Simon from the beginning of the book. But then, towards the middle-end ish, I actually started liking him. So thumbs up for the author for being able to change my mind like that!

I felt like the ending was too short, however. I felt that there were a few loose ends that should have been tied. Such as, the calendar Emily was making. It seems almost like a metaphor throughout the story, and she mentions it a lot. She was supposed to make the calendar as a gift for everyone, but the story ended before she could give it to them. It's not a huge deal, I just think that that thought should have been completed. Also, Blake! **SPOILER HERE** He was pretty much a jerk to her (or so we think) and I would have liked an apology, or an explanation from him so that he wouldn't have just dropped out of the story.

I liked the basic idea of the story, though it wasn't anything too special. It made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions, and definitely was entertaining at some parts. It was a quick read that didn't require too much concentration and chick-lit happiness. I love romance/girly books, and if Picture Perfect sounds interesting, than read it! But if it sounds kinda ehh, skip it and go for another book. I enjoyed this book, and it had it's good moments, but it wasn't anything too special. So, 3 out of 3 stars !

Populazzi by Elise Allen

What would you do to be the most popular girl in school?

When Cara moves to a new school, her friend Claudia encourages her to use the Ladder. The Ladder is a way for Cara to reinvent herself. She was reallllyyy unpopular at her old school, but Claudia convinces her that there are simple steps so that she can be part of the Populazzi, and eventually Supreme Populazzi. There's four steps. First, she must date someone on a low tier to make herself seem wanted. Then she will dump him for a DangerZone on a higher tier. Next, she will date someone within the Populazzi. And eventually, she will become Supreme Populazzi.

Well, let's get the bad things out of the way first. It was predictable, and cliche. But then again, what would you expect from a book titled "Populazzi" haha. And a bit unrealistic, because I don't believe that high school works in the same way as the book described. In Populazzi, there is an elite group of students who are far more popular than anyone else. I don't think there's anyone in my grade like that. There are different groups of popular people, but they're all popular in a different way. They somewhat overlap, but I wouldn't say that there is a single clique of people who are ultimately more popular than everyone else. Nor, is there a Supreme Populazzi. Something that bothered me was how the author kept having her characters say, "I'll email you". Because honestly, having it be 2011, who emails their friends anymore? It's all about texting and Facebook. Just saying. Also, the cover. It's not the most beautiful cover in my opinion. The shirt she's wearing is not a very pretty shirt, her necklace is very cheesy, and the half-cut off face just isn't doing it for me. Lol, but anyway, those were minor things, and on to the good things!!

I LOVED Populazzi. From the first chapter, I was addicted. The writing was hilarious, and I really felt like I understood Cara's awkwardness and feelings. The characters are fantastic and well developed. Being a teenager, it's easy to relate to and recognize the situations I've been in. I found myself laughing at the ridiculous things Cara said, and then wishing she could take back. I loved the chapter about Cara going to Hot Topic and buying everything, because Hot Topic is my favorite store ever! I want to work there next year haha. I enjoyed the emo-transformation and appreciated how the author wrote about it. I liked how the author worked Cara's family problems into the plot line. Her step-dad seriously irked me. He needs a serious reality check! I liked the message this book was giving, and how it ended.

There are obviously a few things that you're like "Come on, that doesn't happen" , but I really loved this book. It was entertaining, I liked the characters, and the plot line was fast and engaging. I would definitely recommend Populazzi, because I'll probably be reading it again next year! I adored it and how it describes the adventures of high school. 5 out of 5 stars !!

My To-Read List :D

Ahhhh school... It's just super exciting to be back isn't it? I just love all the homework and the writing and the quizzes!  (That is sarcasm.)

Well anyway, now I'm pretty busy, but I've still had a few minutes to read at night.

This is my To-Read List::

**It's not for sure, this is just the order I plan on reading them.

First, is Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. I know this came out a few years ago, and I remember that I requested it from the library. But I don't think I ever got around to reading it, whatever the reason for that was! Or maybe I did, but I just don't remember. Anyway, I'm going to give it another try. And also, it's  a "Summer" book, and so postponing this read any more will just seem wrong! haha

Next, is Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark. Yes, it's one of THOSE cheesy, girly novels, but it looked so cute and Island Girls was so enjoyable that I'm hoping it's very similar :)

Next, is Lost Voices by Sarah Porter. I was planning on reading this one after I had read Ripple, but I had had enough of sea- books so I just put it off...

Last, is The One (Cloe Gamble #1) by Ed Dector. I read the whole series last year, and OMG it was addicting. I loved it so much, so I'm going to read it again!

And that's it for now! Right now I'm reading Populazzi by Elise Allen, and it's really good so far. So I'll be reviewing it when I'm done reading it. That will probably be sometime this weekend, so stay tuned!

Happy Reading!

♥MyTeenReads

Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters

Rage is a love story, as the title suggests. But this isn't your ordinary boy-meets-girl love story. First of all, it's a girl-meets-girl love story. But it is so much more than that. As the story begins, we meet Johanna, the patient, reliable, go-to heroine. She's in love with Reeve. Reeve is the opposite of Johanna. She's dangerous, alluring, and mysterious. The story proceeds, and we find ourselves learning about Reeve's abusive family, which leads her to abusing Johanna.

I wanted to love this story, I really did! And I did love it in a way. I don't know what it was about the writing, but there was just something that made it hard for me to get into the story. I found Johanna to be a bit weak, because of all the shit she puts up with. All her friends and family try to warn her to keep away from Reeve, because they don't want to see her get hurt. Johanna ignores them, and chooses Reeve over them. She abuses Johanna, but Johanna claims that Reeve really loves her, she's just scared. Johanna is blind, and loves Reeve. She'll do anything for her, whether it's losing the people and things that are important to her, skipping school, or losing her job. I also don't know how much she sees into Reeve's character. All the time she describes Reeve, it seems mostly physical, not about what's inside. I personally think she's in love with the idea of Reeve, not Reeve herself. You have to understand that the situation that she lives in majorly influences this though. Her life is hard, and it's understandable that this is the type of person she is. The characters are very realistic though. It's easy to understand them and see that they're not perfect at all.

I liked the idea of the book, how it was a love story, but it was a lot more than that. It's about relationships, abuse, loss, and family. There were moments I liked, but I found this book a bit difficult to read because I didn't find myself relating with Johanna very much. I liked it because it was unique. Honestly, how many books about abuse are there? And how many of those have LGBT protagonists? And how many of them are teen girls? So this book fills that little spot.

The ending was a bit of a let-down, but I'm glad it was how it was because it was realistic. I wouldn't really classify this book more as a LGBT book, but more as an abuse book. It's about both, but I think it's more the latter.

Rage isn't a happy book, it's a darker one. It's about abuse. Everyone is either the victim or the abuser, or both. It's painful and sad to think about, but possibly a necessary read.

I also felt a bit confused with the end, like I was missing some parts. Such as what was in Robbie's case and the hospice. Everything just seemed a little bit cut off, with no folow up.

I really wanted to like this story, but I'm going to have to go with 2.5 out of 5 stars on this one.

Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic #3) by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Bloomwood is back! She has a successful job, a wonderful boyfriend, and having a great time living in New York. Her best friend Suze gets engaged, and Becky can't help but feel a little jealous. Then, Luke proposes! She finds herself being thrown into a wedding planned by her parents, in England. And then, Luke's mother offers to give them an all-expenses paid wedding in New York at the Plaza. Becky finds herself unable to choose one, and unable to tell people about her problem.

Ahhh, Becky. How does she get herself into these situations? She has a serious case of denial lol. She has her issues, but she's a lovable heroine that you can't help but cheer for. Becky frustrates me a little bit, but she makes me laugh a lot.

This isn't my favorite of the Shopaholic books, but it's a cute one. It's hilarious, like the other ones!

I would recommend this series for a mindless read that will give you a laugh. The characters are funny and lovable, and just adorable. 3.5 out of 5 stars !! :)

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club starts off telling about how four women meet together to play mah jong in San Francisco. One of the women has died, and her daughter is supposed to take her place at the table. Four stories are told, from 4 mothers and their 4 daughters in alternating perspectives. The stories intertwine as we learn about the mother's lives in China, and their daughter's lives in America.

I found out I had to read this book over the summer as part of summer reading. :P I'm taking the honors English class this year as opposed to last year, when I took the regular class. And no one gave me the memo about the summer books we had to read! Lol. But luckily, I had already read 2 of the 3, and this was the third I had to read.

I found it to be a little bit confusing as I tried to keep track of all the characters and their mothers. Their stories all have similarities so it can be a bit tricky at times. I couldn't relate to a whole lot of it, but I liked the messages it portrayed. This isn't a book I would have chosen for myself to read, I prefer the mindless, girly ones lol. But as required reading, it wasn't that bad, and captivating at points.

I'm going to give it 3 out of 5 stars , because I know it's a classic. I wasn't blown away by it or anything. :P If it sounds like something that interests you, I would recommend it, but if it doesn't, it's probably not something I would rave over.

This was a quick review, as I have to get back to my homework. Yes, homework on the first weekend. I have to catch up on all the stuff I was supposed to do over the summer lol. Until next time! Whenever that time will be :)

Happy reading!

Summer's Almost Over :(

As we all know, summer is almost over.

In 3 days, I will be starting school and my life will become full of lovely homework, speeches, and tests.

I won't have as much free time to read, sadly :( And even if I do, I don't know how much time I'll have to write reviews.

I'll do my best, but I am apologizing in advance if that doesn't happen.

I'm going to be pretty busy in the next few days, so this very well be my last post for a while.

If that is the case, then farewell, until next summer!

I hope it won't be though.

Happy reading everyone!

♥MyTeenReads

Forever (Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Hey guess what? I have a follower lol. I just thought I would announce that. Anyway, on to the review!

Ahh the conclusion. I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, but I couldn't sadly. Shall we go over the things I liked and disliked?

What I Disliked:

How slow the story was. Honestly, I just couldn't get into the story. Maybe it was that I didn't want to read it because I knew it was going to end, or that it just didn't draw me in the same way. In Shiver, I was absolutely addicted. For Forever, I can't say as much. It took me about a week to read this, even though on average a book will take about 3 days. It just seemed so slow and sad at parts that it was hard to be totally absorbed. I felt like the conclusion and action-ey part was only in the last 30 pages, which is kinda ridiculous because the book is almost 400 pages.

The ending. I guess it had to end somehow, but it was so... unfulfilling. I don't want to give too much away, but I just wanted to know more. And I was still a little confused about what had happened in the aftermath haha.

The cure. I still felt like I was missing something, and the cure or whatever it was wasn't totally explained. I just felt that the part about the whole technicalities could have been described better so it felt more scientific.

Isabel and Cole. I wanted romance between them... and yeah that just didn't seem to happen. I wanted them to be happy :(

What I Liked:

The writing. Maggie's writing is amazing. It's so thoughtful, magical, and optimistic. There are just lines you read and you're like "Wow" because they're that thought-provoking. All the moods are captured perfectly. There's sadness, happiness, love, loss, betrayal, laughter, and anger. It can be totally serious at one moment, but then you find yourself smiling on the next page because of something Cole said.

The characters. I just love them all! Sam is just too adorable. I like how he's described as scrawny and lanky instead of being all buff and stuff haha. And he's like emo and feminine too. Aww... How cute. I love Cole and all of his sarcastic, smartass-edness. I love Isabel and how snarky and bitchy she can is, but really she has good intentions.

The love. I love what Sam and Grace have together. It's so sweet, and its so real. Their chemistry is so perfect.

The font color. It was just pretty awesome haha. She should write a book in purple.:D

So, In Conclusion:

The series in all was amazing. I would definitely recommend it! Forever had an ending that disappointed me, but I still think it deserves my 4 out of 5 stars .

Island Girls (And Boys) by Rachel Hawthorne

It's Jen's last summer before she goes off to college. Her last summer to be with her friends. So why not invite them to live in her grandparents beach house with her? There will be no parents, it can teach them about living on their own, and give them time together before they all go their separate ways. Jen, Chelsea, and Amy are all prepared for a fantastic good-bye party of the summer. They aren't prepared for love and how their friendship will change.

I have to admit, I had very low expectations of this book. It was one of those romance novels that looked really cheesy, plus it wasn't exactly new haha.  I don't remember why I picked it up, except the cover was cute lol. And I was blown away by how fantastically I was wrong! I absolutely adored this story.

The characters were amazing. Jen, Amy, and Chelsea are all so different and I found pieces of me in all of them. Jen is the organized one who loves planning (sometimes verging on bossy), Chelsea is the spoiled one, and Amy is the peacekeeper. I didn't really like Chelsea, and I think that was the whole point, but she had her moments that redeemed herself. I loved Jen, I really felt like I could relate with her. I totally felt her pain when it came to Chelsea. I honestly don't even know how they're friends. And with Dylan, I was always on her side. When she was mad at him, I was mad at him too. I didn't think I would be able to forgive him until that one turning point. And it was so sweet, so I forgave him along with Jen. I even found good parts in Noah, who I didn't really like.

The only thing I can think of that would have made this book better is an epilogue. I would have liked to know what happened to everyone, but then again maybe it's better without it haha. And also, the line under the cover that says "Just 3 girls (and 3 dogs, 2 boyfriends, and 1 true love)" could have been omitted. All it did was confuse me!! Also, the count changes throughout the story, so it gets a little confusing haha.

The story is a cute idea and I liked how it covered all sorts of topics, not just love as it suggests. It's about friendship, discovering yourself, making decisions, and learning about love and loss, all tied in to 336 pages. It's a great summer read, and I loved it. 5 out of 5 stars . I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a light, fun summer read. :)

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard



Lexi has always been drawn to the ocean, but on the night of her 16th birthday, she finds herself compulsively wanting to go for a swim and convinces her crush Steven to go with her. Something happens, and before she knows it she surfaces and finds Steven dead. Lexi is a siren, and must swim every night. When she sings her song, men can't help but follow her in to their death. After she kills Steven, she distances herself from her friends. She can't resist hurting anyone else, and its safer that way. Plus, they all blame her for Steven's death anyway (even though the autopsy shows he simply drowned). Then she meets Cole, who was Steven's best friend. She finds herself falling in love with him and wanting to share things with him. And then there's the mysterious Erik, who tells her that there is a way to end the curse and live a normal life. The catch, is that she would have to give up Cole.

 

I honestly wasn't a huge fan of Lexi. She kinda frustrated me with all of her fickleness. She was sooo in love with Steven. Then he dies, and she finds herself falling in love with Cole, who happened to be his best friend. And then there's Erik, and is she falling for him too? Okay that's getting confusing haha. I felt pretty loyal to Cole, so Erik angered me for sticking his head in Lexi's life. Also, she's sort of a b*tch to people. I guess it goes with the whole "distancing" thing, but she's kinda mean. She has her moments where I like her, but I wouldn't want to be BFFs with her. I don't blame Sienna for not really liking her afterward.

 

As for the concept of the story, amazing. I've never read anything about sirens, in fact, I barely know anything about them. And I had never heard of a nix before. I really liked the whole modern-day siren story. Ripple had a few slow moments, but it got really exciting towards the end. It was truly like an adventure because I wasn't able to predict a lot of things.

 

I think the cover is really beautiful, even though I'm not a huge fan of book covers with people on them. The title was kinda ehhh, it was simple and intriguing but not the most relevant to the story. Or at least not as relevant as it could have been haha.

 

A few things that bothered me was the location. Maybe I missed it, but I had no idea where this took place. I probably missed it somewhere though haha. Also, the grandmother. Ripple doesn't mention what she thinks of her granddaughter never sleeping at home. Hmmm...

 

I would have given this book 5 stars, but I think the conclusion could have been a little longer and things could have been said that would have tied the whole thing together, and there was the whole fact that Lexi was kinda mehh for me. But I really did like the concept and the story, so its like a 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's a unique, magical read, and I would recommend it.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (Shopaholic #2) by Sophie Kinsella

In this adventurous sequel to Confessions of a Shopaholic, Becky Bloomwood has it made. She has a wonderful boyfriend, a fantastic best friend, a loving and supportive family, and a career she (somewhat) likes as a finance guru on a morning TV show. And when her boyfriend announces that he’s going to New York and asks her to go with him, she finds herself in the glamour and glitz of America. There's just one tiny, tiny problem. She's in debt... AGAIN.

This is the second time I've read this book, and it was just as funny as the first.

Surprisingly, Becky is easy to love. Yes, she's just ridiculous and crazy and has a serious problem. But she's funny and lovable and has a good heart. She's rather shallow and I have no idea how Luke and Suze put up with her. She really is lucky, it's just dumb luck how things always end up in her favor at the end. However unrealistic and lucky she is, I find myself laughing with her, feeling her pain, and cheering for her the entire book. Mostly I'm just rolling my eyes at the ways she gets into all these crazy situations. I love how she explains to the reader exactly why she needs ANOTHER pair of shoes again and again, and yet it makes sense in a twisted way.

I love the Shopaholic series because the things that come out of this girl's mouth are just too ridiculous. Becky is very much in denial, and I hope that she'll get her act together in the next books. I've read them before, but I forget what happens lol. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for a mindless chick-lit novel and enjoyed the first book in the series. The writing is the same as the first one, and there isn't any huge new things. If you didn't really like the first one, don't read this one because for you, it will basically be the same thing all over again.

4 out of 5 stars because I really did enjoy this one, as fluffy as the story was. :)